Tiva ‘shippers, brace for impact: Without a Trace vet Enrique Murciano is joining the cast of NCIS for multiple episodes as the oft-referred-to-but-never-seen new man in Ziva’s (Cote de Pablo) life.

Exec producer Gary Glasberg says the character, CIA agent Ray Cruz, will prove to be a “fun, smart, exciting addition” to the show, adding “We can’t wait to watch Enrique bring him to life and interact with the NCIS team.”

As I reported in last week’s Ask Ausiello, Ray will be introduced in this season’s 20th episode. “I think it’s going to be interesting,” Michael Weatherly, the guy who puts the Tony in Tiva, recently said of Ray’s arrival. “Tony cares about Ziva and wants to make sure she’s not mixed up with the wrong kind of guy, so he’s going to be watchful and protective of her.”

That is if he’s not too busy generating sparks with the new girl in his life — agent Erica Jane “EJ” Barrett, played by Brothers & Sisters‘ Sarah Jane Morris. For more on that, check out Matt Mitovich’s complete Q&A with Weatherly on Tuesday.

Thoughts? Does Murciano’s casting have you questioning your allegiance to Tiva? Hit the comments!